Rig Veda 4.33.5: Mandala 4, Sukta 33, Mantra 5
Sukta 4.33
- Rishi
- Vāmadeva Gautama
- Devata
- Rbhus
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Adbhuta (wonder) and Vira (heroism)
ज्येष्ठ आह चमसा द्वा करेति कनीयान्त्रीन्कृणवामेत्याह । कनिष्ठ आह चतुरस्करेति त्वष्ट ऋभवस्तत्पनयद्वचो वः ॥
jyéṣṭha āha camasā́ dvā́ karéti kanī́yān trī́n kṛṇavā́m éty āha | kaniṣṭhá āha catúras karéti tváṣṭā ṛbhavas tát panayat váco vaḥ ||
Der Älteste sprach: »Zwei Becher sollt ihr machen«; der Jüngere sprach: »Drei wollen wir machen«; der Jüngste sprach: »Vier sollt ihr machen«. O Rbhus, Tvaṣṭṛ billigte jenes Wort von euch — euer gestaltendes Wort, das das Gefäß der Wonne vermehrt.
Word by Word
- ज्येष्ठः
- the eldest (one)Adjective (used substantively)पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot ज्येष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
- आह
- saidVerbलिट् (परिपूर्ण-भूत/परफेक्ट), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचनRole क्रियाRoot अह् (धातु) / ब्रू (अर्थे ‘कथने’), परस्मैपद-परिपाटि ‘आह’ (परिपूर्ण-भूत)
- चमसा
- with a cup (chalice)Nounपुंलिङ्गः, तृतीया, एकवचनRole करणRoot चमस (प्रातिपदिक)
- द्वा
- twoNumeral(द्वौ/द्वा) पुंलिङ्ग-प्रयोगः, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, द्विवचन (वैदिक रूप ‘द्वा’)Role कर्म (परिमाण/संख्या)Root द्वि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
- करेति
- ‘make!’ (he said), thusVerb + Indeclinableकरे(त्) = लोट्/विधिलिङ्-छाया (आज्ञार्थ/प्रस्ताव), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; इति = अव्ययRole क्रिया (उद्धृत-वाक्य)Root कृ (धातु) + इति (उद्धरण-अव्यय)
- कनीयान्
- the younger (one)Adjective (used substantively)पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot कनीयस् (तुलनात्मक-प्रातिपदिक)
- त्रीन्
- threeNumeralपुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, बहुवचनRole कर्मRoot त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
- कृणवाम
- let us two makeVerbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ/प्रस्ताव), उत्तमपुरुष, द्विवचन (वैदिक ‘-वाम’)Role क्रियाRoot कृ (धातु)
- इति
- thusIndeclinableअव्ययRole सम्बन्ध/उद्धरण-चिह्नRoot इति
- आह
- saidVerbलिट्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचनRole क्रियाRoot अह्/ब्रू (धातु) — ‘आह’
- कनिष्ठः
- the youngest (one)Adjective (used substantively)पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot कनिष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
- आह
- saidVerbलिट्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचनRole क्रियाRoot अह्/ब्रू (धातु) — ‘आह’
- चतुरः
- fourNumeral/Adjectiveपुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, बहुवचनRole कर्मRoot चतुर् (संख्या/विशेषण-प्रातिपदिक)
- करेति
- ‘make!’ thusVerb + Indeclinableकरे(त्) = लोट्/विधिलिङ्-छाया, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; इति = अव्ययRole क्रिया (उद्धृत-वाक्य)Root कृ (धातु) + इति
- त्वष्टः
- O TvaṣṭarProper Nounपुंलिङ्गः, सम्बोधन/प्रथमा एकवचन (वैदिक रूप ‘त्वष्टः’)Role सम्बोधनRoot त्वष्टृ (प्रातिपदिक; देवता)
- ऋभवः
- the RbhusProper Noun (collective)पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole कर्तृRoot ऋभु (प्रातिपदिक; देवगण)
- तत्
- thatPronounनपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- पनयत्
- marvelled at / admiredVerbलङ् (अनद्यतन-भूत), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचनRole क्रियाRoot पनय् (धातु; ‘प्रशंसने/आश्चर्ये’ वैदिक)
- वचः
- speech, utteranceNounनपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot वचस् (प्रातिपदिक)
- वः
- of you / yourPronoun (enclitic)षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध), बहुवचनRole सम्बन्ध (genitive)Root युष्मद् (सर्वनाम)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेद (सन्धि-निरसन): ज्येष्ठः | आह | चमसा | द्वा | कर इति | कनीयान् | त्रीन् | कृणवाम | इति | आह | कनिष्ठः | आह | चतुरः | कर इति | त्वष्टः | ऋभवः | तत् | पनयत् | वचः | वः । मुख्य सन्धि: (1) करेति = कर + इति (इति-उद्धरणे) । (2) त्रीन् कृणवाम → त्रीन् + कृणवाम (अनुस्वार/नकार-सन्धि; पाठे ‘त्रीन्’ स्पष्ट) । (3) तत्पनयद्वचो वः → तत् + पनयत् + वचः + वः
- ‘तत्’ के परे प् होने से ‘तत्प-’, तथा ‘वचः’ + ‘वः’ में विसर्ग-लोप/सन्धि से संहिता-पाठ ‘वचो वः’।
The meaning
Outer meaning
The eldest said, ‘Make two cups’; the younger said, ‘Let us make three’; the youngest said, ‘Make four.’ Tvaṣṭṛ approved your utterance, O Ṛbhus.
Inner meaning
The ‘cups’ are vessels of consciousness that can contain and distribute delight (soma-rasa) and luminous power. The progressive multiplication (2→3→4) indicates expansion from duality to a richer, more integral order: from basic polarities (e.g., knowledge–force) to a triadic harmony (e.g., sat–cit–ānanda in experience), and then to a fourfold completeness (often felt as a stable integral foundation: wideness, clarity, power, delight; or a fourfold instrument). Tvaṣṭṛ—the formative divine Mind that shapes forms—sanctions the creative Word (vāc) of the Ṛbhus: right speech/insight has the power to increase our capacity for the nectar of realization.
Universal truth
Growth of consciousness is measurable as increased capacity: the same delight and truth require ever more adequate vessels; right word and right formation expand the container of life.
Themes
multiplication of vessels, craftsmanship of consciousness, Tvaṣṭṛ as archetypal shaper, number symbolism
The seer
- Rishi
- Vāmadeva Gautama
- Lineage
- Gautama
- Other hymns
- RV 4.33.6, RV 4.33.7
Family tradition
Poetic-technical precision: numbers, measures, and workmanship become spiritual symbols of capacity and integration.
Significance
Vāmadeva presents a yoga of ‘vessel-making’: the seeker must be re-formed to hold more light and bliss; this is validated by the divine shaper (Tvaṣṭṛ).
The deity
- Devata
- Ṛbhus (with Tvaṣṭṛ)
- Epithets
- naraḥ (strong ones—contextual in the hymn), ṛbhavaḥ (skillful ones)
- Related deities
- Tvaṣṭṛ, Indra, Soma
Cosmic role
Multipliers of capacity; refiners of instruments; collaborators with the cosmic shaper (Tvaṣṭṛ) in manifestation.
Inner power
Creative intelligence in action—turning aspiration into structured, repeatable realization (a larger ‘cup’).
In ritual
Where it is used
Associated with Soma-vessel symbolism and artisan consecrations in Śrauta settings; praise of Ṛbhus as perfecters of ritual implements.
ज्ये॒ष्ठ आ॑ह चम॒सा द्वा क॒रेति॒ कनी॑या॒न्त्रीन्कृ॑णवा॒मेत्या॑ह । क॒नि॒ष्ठ आ॑ह च॒तुर॑स्क॒रेति॒ त्वष्ट॑ ऋभव॒स्तत्प॑नय॒द्वचो॑ वः ॥
ज्ये॒ष्ठः । आ॒ह॒ । च॒म॒सा । द्वा । क॒र॒ । इति॑ । कनी॑यान् । त्रीन् । कृ॒ण॒वा॒म॒ । इति॑ । आ॒ह॒ । क॒नि॒ष्ठः । आ॒ह॒ । च॒तुरः॑ । क॒र॒ । इति॑ । त्वष्टा॑ । ऋ॒भ॒वः॒ । तत् । प॒न॒य॒त् । वचः॑ । वः॒ ॥
jyeṣṭhaḥ | āha | camasā | dvā | kara | iti | kanīyān | trīn | kṛṇavāma | iti | āha | kan iṣṭhaḥ | āha | caturaḥ | kara | iti | tvaṣṭā | ṛbhavaḥ | tat | panayat | vacaḥ | vaḥ
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4 × ~11 syllables
Dialogic, stepped rhythm matching the numerical progression; crisp turns at ‘āha’.
Gives a sense of incremental ascent; the mind naturally follows the 2–3–4 expansion as a meditative ladder.
- चमसा (camasā)
- Literal: cups, bowls. Symbolic: vessels of consciousness; capacities to hold and share delight/knowledge
- द्वा / त्रीन् / चतुरः (dvā / trīn / caturaḥ)
- Literal: two / three / four. Symbolic: stages of integration: dual → triadic harmony → fourfold completeness/stability
- वचः (vacaḥ)
- Literal: word, utterance. Symbolic: truth-speech; formative mantra-power shaping inner reality
- त्वष्टा (tvaṣṭā)
- Literal: Tvaṣṭṛ, the shaper. Symbolic: divine formative intelligence approving right formation
- पनयत् (panayat)
- Literal: approved/commended (made admirable). Symbolic: inner sanction: alignment with the law of truth and right making
Directly tied to the Rbhu myth of multiplying the Soma cups (camasas), a key ritual-implement motif; used to invoke powers that increase receptivity and delight in Soma rites.
During hymns to Ṛbhus; thematically linked with preparation/validation of vessels and offerings.
Recitation to invoke right formation and approval of the rite’s ‘measure’ and implements.
Use when establishing a new practice rhythm (japa, meditation duration): invoke gradual expansion of capacity without strain.
camasá- 'cup' (ritual vessel), here symbol of receptivity. kṛ- 'to make' (PIE *kwer-/*ker- 'to do/make', broad). catúr- 'four' from PIE *kʷetwóres (cf. Greek téssares, Latin quattuor). tváṣṭṛ from √tvaṣ 'to fashion, form'. panayat from √pan 'to admire/approve' (also 'to bargain' in other contexts), here 'to commend'.
creative speech (vāc) as formative power, progressive manifestation (2→3→4) as increasing wholeness
Number and measure express ṛta: right proportion is a cosmic law mirrored in inner growth.
Tvaṣṭṛ’s approval indicates alignment with satya—true formation, not arbitrary expansion.
Manifestation by the Word: utterance becomes blueprint; vessels multiply as consciousness evolves.
Mantra-śakti perspective consonant with Aurobindo: speech/idea as creative force in consciousness.
The psyche as a container: it must be re-shaped to hold higher intensities of light and delight.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The Rbhu myth of multiplying the Soma cups: from a limited form to a greater, more comprehensive set. Inner sense: the faculties of receptivity in the seeker are increased—consciousness becomes able to hold more delight and truth-force; Tvaṣṭṛ’s approval signals alignment with archetypal right formation.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- catúr- 'four' is a clear PIE inheritance (*kʷetwóres). The myth’s numerical progression echoes Indo-European symbolic numerology where 'four' often marks completeness in the manifested order.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi celebrates not only the Rbhus’ skill but their vāc as creative decree. By praising this speech-act, he seeks the same enlarging power in his yajña: the divine craftsmen expand the human vessel so it can receive the Soma-delight.
Expand the inner ‘vessel’ to hold more presence (cit) and sweetness (ānanda) without overflow or recoil.
Viśuddha (vāc/word) supporting Ājñā (formation/vision) and Anāhata (capacity for rasa).
Step-breath: inhale 4, hold 2, exhale 4 for a few rounds; then silent contemplation of ‘capacity increasing’.
Structured widening—clarity with a sense of safe expansion.
Contemplate your current capacity (the ‘two cups’). Invite a triadic harmony (knowledge–will–delight), then stabilize into a fourfold base (peace, light, power, joy) before increasing intensity.
Maintain clear tonal rises on quoted speech markers; keep the enumerations distinct and evenly spaced.
Pause lightly after each ‘āha’; articulate numbers cleanly (dvā / trīn / caturaḥ) to preserve the stepped meaning.
jyeṣṭha: pronounce ‘jyeṣ-ṭha’ with retroflex ṭh., kanīyān / kaniṣṭha: keep long ī in kanīyān; retroflex ṣṭh in kaniṣṭha., camasā: ‘ca-ma-sā’ with long ā at end., tvaṣṭā: cluster ‘ṣṭ’ retroflex; long ā at end.
Crisp diction, slightly brighter tone on the quoted instructions; settle on ‘tvaṣṭā… vaco vaḥ’.
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